Albert latham



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A. LATHAM. CASH REGISTER.

155597505. P5555555 Jan. 18,1898.

WITNESSES: INVENTOH flh 1 7 06% ATTORNEY .c, 'IHIZ nouns mzns (0.,woroummwnnmomn u 2 t e w m w e e h S 2 Mn M M TE A R LH A A U Q d 0 M 0W Patented Jan. 18, 1898.

INVEN TOR Mi! W WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT LATHAM, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE STERLINGSUPPLY AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

CASH-REGISTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 597,505, dated January18, 1898. Apnlication filed December 3, 1896, Serial No. 614,281. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT LATHAM, of the city of Springfield, county ofI-Iampden, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Oash-Registers, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to cash-registers, and has principally for itsobject to control and regulate the movement of the key-arm and also theconstruction of a transfer-pin to make a more accurate and positivethrow of the registering-cam, all of which will be hereinafter morefully explained.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,my invention is fully illustrated with similar letters of reference toindicate corresponding parts, as follows:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation showing a mechanism which operatesthe indicating-wheels a and c, and particularly the lever A and theguard d, which controls its movement andkeeps it in line. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of a portion of the frame B, showing the lever Aindependent of its connecting parts. Fig. 3 represents a top or planview of the lever A and the transfer mechanism connected thereto,showing the ball-bearing pin 6. Fig. at is a side elevation of Fig. 3,showing the ball-bearing pin 6 in its position within the cam 6. Figs.5, 6, and 7 represent transverse sections through the lever A and cam 6,showing the various positions assumed by the ball-bearing pin a in itsmovement. Fig. 8 represents aface view of the guard 6?, showing the fourslots which control the movement of the lever A.

I11 order to make the particular features of myimprovement clear and toshow their complete operation unobstructed by the usual amount of partsemployed in cash-registers, I have omitted the greater portion of theparts which do not relate or bear directly upon my improvement.

The operation of the general mechanism is precisely the same as thatshown and illustrated in an application filed by me in United StatesPatent Office, December 3, 1896, Serial No. 614,039, and in which, as inthe present invention, the geared segment h, Fig. I, is provided withteeth to mesh with teeth of small geared wheels 0 and a, which aresecured to the small and large indicating-wheels c and a, respectively.The geared segment h is pro vided with a rearwardly-projecting arm h andsuit-able retractile spring 11, one end of which is secured to the backportion of the frame 13, the opposite end being secured to therearwardly-projecting arm h". The contracting power of the retractilespring 2' upon the rearwardly-projecting arm acts as a fulcrum to throwthe circular portion of the segment upward, thus causing the smallgearwheels at and c to rotate in the opposite direction and carry withthem the indicatingwheels a and c to which they are secured. Thisoperation is brought about by the escaping pallets Z and Z, which aresecured to the lever A and escape sufficient to permit theindicating-wheels to make a partial rotation to produce a new indicationeach time the lever A is pressed down. It is of course understood thatthe power or retractile nature of the springiis sufii cient to cause acomplete rotation of the indicating-wheel referred to. The retractilespring t' is readjusted after its power is exhausted by a crank situatedon the side of the machine and acting upon a shaft m, as explained in myprevious application referred to.

The principal feature of my invention, however, relates to theadjustment, alinement, and regulation of the lever A, and theballbearing pin 6 is connected thereto. lleretofore in alladding-machines, cash-registers, &c., where the lever A is used tooperate the mechanism by the-escaping pallets, the throw of the lever Awas controlled by the contact of the pallets with the escape-wheel, bothin its upward and downward movement, so that the blow struck on thebutton 8 would exert its full force on the rearward pallet Z and theupward stroke would exert its force on the forward pallet Z. Thusconsiderable wear would undoubtedly be caused by the contact between thepoints of the pallet and the escaping wheel acting in connectiontherewith. hen this wear takes place and the pallets thereby areshortened, one stroke of the lever A in its downward movement goesfarther than is intended and quite often a double escapement is madeinstead of a single one, as intended, and in this way the machinebecomes absolutely unreliable. To remedy this evil, it has been thecustom heretofore to regulate the throw of the lever A within the slotsin the'front of the case which covers the machine and through which thelevers A pass, bringing the button portion 3 of the lever A on theoutside of the case. This method, however, is found unreliable from thefact that where the cases are made of iron the [contraction andexpansion, together with the warping of the case, destroy the alinementof the levers,and this makes it necessary to leave sufficient room forthe free movement of the lever A without bringing it in direct contactwith the slots. Another objection is that the metal of the case isusually of a hard brittle cast-iron, and the constant striking of thelever A at the top and bottom of the slot will cause a depression to beworn in the lever at that particular point, and as this depressionpermits a greater throw of the lever a double escapement will soon takeplace, as above described. Where wooden cases are used instead ofmetal,the same objections are found, but to a more serious degree, owingto the shrinkage or warping of the case according to the temperature ordampness, and in both cases when the lever strikes against the top orbottom of the slot the case will act as a sounding-board and a veryobjectionable noise and clatter is the result. In order to overcome thisdifficulty, therefore, I have created a guard, as (Z. (Shown in Figs. 1and 2.) In Fig. 1 I have shown the guard constructed so as to beattached to any of the existing frames of cash-registers now in use, butin Fig. 2 I have shown it constructed as a part of the frame itself,which is the most economic when new machines are bein made.

In Fig. 8 a face view of the guard is shown with the four slots, one foreach of the four levers which I employ in my present machine.

As shown in Fig. 1, the guard is formed of one casting, which extendsacross the face of the frame B and is bolted rigidly to the sidesthereof, as shown at s and 3 Thus any movement of the guard independentof the frame B becomes absolutely impossible, and when the slots u areclosely adjusted, as a guide to the movement of the lever A, it will bequite impossible for the lever to get out of alinement, either laterallyor vertically, or to vibrate sufficiently to make it unreliable. At thetop or bottom of the slot to I insert a piece of leather a, which actsas a cushion and absorbs the blow of the lever A. It destroys the metalcontact and sound, which is so objectionable and destructive upon thelever. The distance between the leathers u is such'that the throw of thelever is controlled absolutely by the guard d and no strain or wear ispermitted on the pallets, as heretofore described.

WVhen the leathers are worn, new ones may be inserted at very little orpractically no cost. Thus the alinement and regulation of the lever A isalways maintained and positive and reliable action of the pallets aresecured. Ordinarily leather or a vegetable substance such as compressedpaper, leatheroid, or rubber-can be used in the top or bottomof theslot; but it may be desirable in some cases to insert a soft metalsuchas lead or a suitable compound of like nature-which would give morewearing and be non-metallic in its sound, thus acting as a cushion todeaden the noise.

Referring to Figs. 3 to 7, inclusive, it will be seen that the transfermechanism consists substantially of a tripping-plate e which is carriedby the lever A, and which is so mounted and constructed as to be capableof assuming each of two positions, and of a rearwardly-projectingfulcrumed arm or lever, which is suitably connected with and adapted toactuate said tripping-plate, as hereinafter more particularly described.The leverA is provided on one of its sides (the left) with perforatedlugs and on the other side with a flat spring b which is so shaped as toeX- tend substantially parallel to the side of the lever. Atripping-plate e is mounted upon a suitable pin 61 which has bearings atits ends in the perforated lugs of the lever A, and its outer end isbent at right angles to the arm itself and extends through an aperturein the lever A. Its extreme end, which is provided with the usualangular edge, bears against the spring 19 by which arrangement the armis capable of assuming either of two positions. The other or rear end ofsaid tripping-plate e carries a pin f, which projects through the leverA and is provided with a ball-shaped head 8. A tongue 0 forms a portionof the tripping-plate and projects therefrom over the top of the lever.The edge of the tongue, which is nearer to the machine, is inclined fora purpose hereinafter set forth. Contiguous to the rear end of thetripping-plate a rock-shaft '12, having bearings in a tubular o, isjournaled. It carries at one of its ends a rearwardly-projecting arm orlever 0 which latter is so situated as to be struck by a pin on theindicating-wheel that is operated by the adjoining lever at the rightwhenever said wheel has exhausted its numbers. At its other end saidshaft carries a block or arm f which is secured at one end to said shaftand which is forked at its other or free end. The forked end of saidblock is in engagement with the ball-head of the pin f, above described.As will hereinafter be set forth in describing the operation of thismechanism, the tripping-plate e is thrown away from the lever by theupward movement of the block f actuated by its lever or arm 12 when thelatter is impelled by the blow from the pin on the side of the adjoiningindicating-wheel. The means for throwing said tripping-plate back to itsnorcut to Benton and Hess, already referred to,

and consists of a horizontal bar arranged above the keys and supportedby suitable legs pivotally connected at the side and base of themachine-frame. Vhenever the crank, by which the indicating-wheels areall returned to the zero positions, is operated this bar,by means of acam arrangement,is thrown forward and backward above the keys during therevolution of said crank. The bar is furthermore provided withdownwardly projecting lugs, which are beveled on their rear faces, andwhich when any of the plates on the levers A are thrown away therefromand during the movement of the horizontal bar actuated by the crank andcam arrangement, engage the tongues on said trippingplates, so as tothrow the latter back to their normal positions. The most importantfunction of this horizontal bar, however, is to depress the levers Awhenever their trippingplates are thrown away from the'sides of thelevers, so as to be in the path of the lugs on the horizontal bar as thelatter is moved outward or forward.

The operation of this transfer mechanism may be described as follows: Itmustbe borne in mind that this mechanism is provided for all but theextreme right lever. lVhenever one of the indicating-wheels hasexhausted its numbers, its pin, which is arranged on its side, engagesthe arm 22 of the transfer mechanism of the adjoining lever, depressesthe same, which actuates the forked block so that the tripping-plate,through pin f, is made to assume a position at an angle to the side ofthe lever A. \Vhen the crank by which the indicating-wheels are returnedto their zero positions is revolved, the horizontal bar is thrownforward, its downwardly-projecting lugs engage the tongues on thetripping-plates and cause the depression of the levers to which saidtripping plates are connected. The depression of the levers obviouslycauses one escapement in each wheel which they are adapted to operate.At the return of the horizontal bar the beveled sides of its lugs comeinto contact with the tongues, so that the same being moved laterallyeffect the return of the tripping-plate to their normal positions.

It is to be noted that were a straight pin instead of one having aball-head provided the wear on the parts of such a mechanism as has beendescribed would be considerable, especially if the parts were puttogether in such a way as to fit nicely and precisely.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure byLetters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a cash-register provided with an indicating-wheel, the combinationwith the lever A and the tripping-plate e mount-ed substantiallyparallel to and at one side of said lever and so constructed as to beadapted to be tripped to either of two positions relatively to saidlever, of suitable independent mechanism constituting operativeconnection between the tripping-plate and the wheel, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a cash-register provided with an indicatingwheel, the combinationwith the lever A and the tripping-plate e mounted substantially parallelto and at one side of said lever and so constructed as to be adapted tobe tripped to either of two positions relatively to said lever, of arock-shaft journaled in the lever and provided with arms, by the one ofwhich the rock-shaft is adapted to be actuated by said wheel and by theother of which said rock-shaft is adapted to actuate the tripping-plate,substantially as described.

3. In a cash-register provided with an indicating-wheel, the combinationwith the lever A and the tripping-plate e having a laterally-extendingpin 6, mounted substantially parallel to and at one side of. said leverand so constructed as to be adapted to be tripped to either of twopositions relatively to said lever, of a rock-shaft journaled in thelever and provided with a forked arm operatively connected with the pin6, and with a rearwardly-projecting arm adapted to be actuated by thewheel so as to rock the rock-shaft and trip the tripping-plate,substantially as described.

4:. In a cash-register provided with an indicating-wheel, thecombination with the lever A and the tripping-plate e having alaterallyprojecting ball-head pin 6 and mounted substantially parallelto and at one side of said lever and so constructed as to be adapted tobe tripped to either of two positions relatively to said lever, of arock-shaft journaled in the lever and provided with a forked armreceiving the ball-head of said pin e, and with a rearwardly-projectingarm adapted to be actuated by the wheel so as to rock the rockshaft andtrip the tripping-plate, substantially as described.

r 5. In a cash-register provided with an indieating-wheel, thecombination with the lever A and the tripping-plate e having alaterallyprojecting ball-head pin e penetrating said lever, saidtripping-plate being mounted substantially parallel to and at one sideof said lever and being so constructed as to be adapted to be tripped toeither of two positions relatively to said lever, of a rock-shaftjournaled in the lever and provided with a forwardly-extending forkedarm receiving the ball-head of said pin 6 and with arearwardlyprojecting arm adapted to be actuated by the wheel so as torock the rock-shaft and trip the tripping-plate,substantially asdescribed.

6. In a cash-register provided with indicating-wheels, the combinationwith each pair of said wheels, of a lever A adapted to operate one ofsaid wheels in each pair, a tripping plate 6 having alaterallyprojecting ballhead pin 6 which penetrates said lever, saidtripping-plate being mounted substantially parallel to and at one sideof said lever and so constructed as to be adapted to be tripped toeither of .two positions relatively to said lever, a rock-shaft journaled in the lever and provided with a forwardly-extending forked armreceiving the ball-head of said pin 6, and with a rearwardly-projectingarm adapted to be actuated by the other of said wheels of each pair soas to rock the rock-shaft and trip the tripping-plate, and suitablemechanism for engaging the tripping-plate in its tripped position so asto actuate the lever and for returning said tripping-plate and therock-shaft to their initial positions, substantially as described.

7. In a cash-register, the combination With the frame and With theoperating key-levers of said cash-register, of a detachable platemounted on said frame and provided with slots through which said leversare adapted to project and which are adapted to limit the ALBERT LATHAM.

WVitnesses:

CHAS. E. STRONG, M. E. HECKMAN.

